Presentations

Canada’s Digital Future
Alex Benay is bringing a different lens to the technology landscape of government-his goal is to create a government that is more exponential, rather than linear, in order to meet Canadians’ needs for digital services. Alex’s keynote address will discuss the ways in which the public sector must strive to engage with citizens in a way that is open and digital by default first. Alex will also touch on how the Government of Canada, among others, must embrace the technologies needed to operate in a digital world and promote innovation in the public sector – in order to bring government services into the information age.

Learning from Failure
Humans are a dominant species that has thrived on a history of striving for success. And yet, an individual, organization or nation that prides itself only on its success is not prepared to face the challenges of the future. A nation should face its failures, accept them, and in certain cases even celebrate them, in an effort to become greater than it is. In a world that is often described as entering a new “disruptive” phase of existence, complete with disruptive technologies, disruptive economies, and so forth, and at a time when the innovation economies of the world are seen as a critical next step in our human evolution, not failing often and fast seems counter-intuitive to any innovation agenda. Failures define us as much as successes; they shape our national DNA, our culture, and our creative spirit.   Benay explores the stories of individuals who have both failed and succeeded, and how, through time, failures have helped to shape our national identity.

Social Leadership & Intrapreneurship
In this presentation, Alex looks at the organizational and human dimensions of leadership. He will deliver experience-based, practical ideas and approaches that audiences can implement for themselves, in their own organizations, and specifically within the public sector.